At Hawthorn Farm Cottages, we're dedicated to preserving our beautiful surroundings and minimizing our environmental impact. We believe in sustainable practices and encourage our guests to join us in our efforts.
Eco-Friendly Initiatives at Hawthorn Farm
- Solar Power: We have recently installed enough solar panels and storage batteries to provide electricity to all our holiday cottages during the sunnier months. At present, Foxglove Cottage is the only cottage entirely heated and powered by electricity, but we are committed to using sustainable sources of power for all our holiday cottages as much as we can.
- Energy Efficiency: We've implemented energy-saving measures throughout the cottages, including energy-efficient lightbulbs where feasible. As a matter of environmental concern, we kindly request that our guests use heat and light responsibly - for example, by keeping doors and windows closed in the colder months, to conserve the heat; and not leaving lights on in un-used rooms, or when leaving the cottage unoccupied.
- Water Conservation: We also kindly ask our guests to be mindful of water usage. By minimizing water consumption (think bathroom, dishwashers and laundry room), you can help us conserve this precious resource. Our showers have flow limiters, and our dishwashers and washing machine have "eco" settings, which we encourage our guests to use.
- On-Site Wastewater Treatment: Our on-site wastewater treatment plant ensures that wastewater is treated responsibly and discharged safely.
- Sustainable Linen: To reduce our environmental footprint, we use a professional linen company to provide and launder all our bedding and towels. We have chosen a company that has a credible sustainability strategy, including washing at lower temperatures, and with a commitment to using biofuel and electric vehicles for collection and delivery. We also change bed linen and towels in the cottages on request for guests staying for more than 7 days, and ask departing guests to leave un-used towels folded and in the bedrooms to avoid unnecessary cleaning.
- Local Sourcing: We support local businesses whenever we can by sourcing products for our welcome packs and optional extras from nearby suppliers. This cuts down on "food miles" and supports the local economy.
- Waste Reduction and Recycling: We're committed to responsible waste management. We ask our guests to sort their rubbish and food waste, and use the bio-degradable bags for food waste, and recycling bins for glass, card and containers to minimize our impact on local landfill. We provide information and contact details for all the local farm shops, many of which now supply packaging-free produce.
- Chemicals and Cleaning Products: Wherever possible, we avoid using harsh chemicals and cleaning products, as these ultimately end up polluting the environment. We provide an "EcoEgg" sustainable and reusable laundry detergent pod for our guests' use in our washing machine.
- Rainwater Harvesting: We collect rainwater in water butts, which is used to maintain our wildlife pond and water our gardens.
- Biodiversity: We understand the importance of maintaining a biodiverse environment, and to this end we manage our farm grounds in a way that respects the local ecosystem. We regularly plant/replace trees, and maintain the hedgerows; we refrain from using nasty chemicals to control weeds; and we have a "live and let live" attitude to the wildlife that shares the land with us. Our donkeys eat locally grown hay, and their dung is left to rot down before being used as organic fertilizer.
- Electric Car Charging: Although we do not have this facility at present, as soon as there is enough demand, we plan to install charging stations at Hawthorn Farm.
By choosing Hawthorn Farm Cottages, you're contributing to a more sustainable future. Together, we can make a positive difference!